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𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆, Stella and her father, along with Janette, the girls, and Carter went to Sunday service at Bobby's church, to listen to his sermon as the latter had invited them.

"Forgive me father, for I have sinned." Bobby said then held up a Bible. "This...this is where most of us go when we think about forgiveness, true? But what about forgiveness in other forms? Forgiveness of others? And then...there's my personal favorite, forgiveness of thyself."

Stella smiled as she listened to Bobby's sermon. He certainly had a way of speaking that made you feel at ease. She glanced over at her father, who closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he listened to the sermon. It was almost like, he was finding, some kind of peace, maybe he was finally starting to forgive himself for what happened to Ava. Noticing this, the brunette reached over and took his hand, and gave him a soft smile, which he returned.

"This is probably our toughest battle, but listen, if God can forgive, so can you." Bobby said.

"Bullshit!"

Stella, her father, grandmother, and best friends, turned to find Johnny walking into the church drunk. They turned to look at Bobby, while everybody else turned to see the blonde

"What about that time in Reno, with those soccer moms at the Hyatt?" Johnny slurred and Stella felt her heart drop and her eyes sting with tears. "Did God forgive any of us for that?" Johnny said

Bobby looked at Stella, who was visibly upset, then back at Johnny. "Yes, even that. Forgiveness is the core of Christianity."

"Stell, are you alright, hon?" Lori asked as she took her best friend's hand

"I'm fine, don't worry about it." Stella said as she wiped her tears

"I wouldn't know that, not much of a churchgoer." Johnny said, slightly stumbling

"Maybe you should start." Nathan mumbled

"Nathan, not here." Janette warned

"I'm sorry. Apologies everyone." Bobby said. "My friend here is going through some tough times."

"Nothing I can't handle." Johnny said, as he leaned on a church pew for balance, the church pew Stella and her family and friends happened to be sitting in. He turned to look at Stella and winked at her, and she turned her head away in disgust.

"Johnny, I'm in the middle of a sermon. So why don't you take a seat—" Bobby said as he was now visibly upset.

"Y'know, this guy was a real badass back in the day." Johnny slurred. "Fighting, partying, drinking. Sucks you're not allowed to get laid anymore man."

"How many times I gotta tell you, I'm not a priest." Bobby said

"Oh, so your wang can still get tang? Nice." Johnny slurred

"Forgive me father." Bobby said

"For what?" Johnny questioned

Bobby looked down and swept Johnny's leg, then stood up and fixed his coat. As everyone around him looked around, Carter helped him up as he sat down next to him. As the service continued, Johnny would look over at Stella and Nathan shot him a warning glare.

──────

August sat in his hospital room watching Pure Country  on his laptop. It was one of his favorite movies growing up, and one the Walkers used to watch as a family.

"Hey." Sam smiled as she walked into the room

"Hey." August greeted back.

"I hope it's okay, me just showing up like this. How are you? I mean... sorry. It's a stupid question." Sam said, and August chuckled

"It's okay, I have surgery on Friday. Some doctor from out of state who supposedly works miracles." August said

"That's great, right?" Sam asked

"I'm not getting my hopes up. The surgery costs a ton and my family's gonna be in debt, and there's no guarantee it will work." August said

"If anyone can beat the odds it's you." Sam said

August's eyes wondered to Sam's injured arm. "Is that from Tory?"

Sam glanced down and covered her arm. "Oh, uh... yeah. It's really not that bad. Kinda makes me look tough."

"I'm sorry about that Sam." August said

"You didn't do anything. She's the one who decided to go crazy." Sam said

"Tory's had a rough life. Her mom's sick and..." August said, but was cut off by Sam

"Everybody's got a sob story. Doesn't give you the right to be a bully. I just wanted to give you this. It's just a card." Sam said, giving him the card with the octopus that said, You Octopi My Thoughts! "August, I'm so sorry. For all of this." she said, tears threatening to spill

"It's uh... it's okay." August said

"El Serpiente!" The voice of Hawk exclaimed his face suddenly changing as he saw Sam

"I'm gonna go." Sam said, walking towards the door.

"Okay, yeah." August smiled.

"You got some nerve coming here after what your boyfriend did." Hawk said

"I don't care what you think." Sam said. "I just want to help."

"Pretty sure you've done enough, princess." Hawk said, walking past them, then smiled as he greeted August. "Hey bro."

"What's up man?" August smiled softly as he gave a supportive five

"You good? I like the spot." Hawk said

──────

"You okay, Stell?" Lori said as she, Stella, Kara, Amy, and Carter walked to the parking lot after the service ended and Janette and Nathan stayed behind to talk to Bobby.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just tired." Stella said as she reached her impala and searched her keys for her purse.

"You're the world's most horrible liar." Lori said, "Which is why you never win card games."

"Hey, I always win card games and you know it." Stella said as she unlocked her impala and tossed her purse inside.

"Don't look now, blondie at 3:00." Amy said as she rolled her eyes

Stella turned her head to see Johnny walking towards the brunette and her friends. Rolling her eyes, she got in the car, started it, and drove away.

"What's her problem?" Johnny said

"Can't you take a hint you dumb shit?" Amy spat.

"Yeah." Kara said as she folded her arms over her chest

"What are you talking about?" Johnny said

"Oh, you can't figure it out, let us explain. You've been ignoring her calls for weeks, you crashed pastor Brown's sermon drunk, then bragged about fucking soccer moms when you know she's absolutely crazy for you?" Lori spat as she defended her best friend

"Look, I threw my phone away, that's why I haven't been returning any of her calls—" Johnny said

"Yeah, that's the world's oldest excuse." Lori rolled her eyes, and folded her arms over her chest.

"Look, we know you're going through a lot with what happened to August, but you're not the only one. Think about her. They've always been close. That's her brother." Kara said

"I wasn't there for her when she needed me. She's gonna hate me." Johnny said

"No she won't." Amy said. "You need to try."

"How do you know she won't hate me?" Johnny said

"We're her best friends." Carter said as he wrapped his arm around Lori. "We know her better than she knows herself."

"Johnny, Stella may try to push you away, believe me, she's tried pushing us away for weeks, but you can't let her. You need to let her know you're there for her. Treat her with tender care, or treat each other with tender care in other words." Amy said.

  ──────

Flashback
— Summer 1988, Austin, TX

The soft melody of Tammy Wynette's Help Me Make It Through the Night played as Ava sat at her desk in her bedroom, writing a letter to her cowboy, Nathan Walker. After writing the letter, and underlining I love you in red, she took her pink ribbon from her beautiful blonde hair, and set it on the nightstand.

"Hey Kellie, when you go into town tomorrow, will you mail this letter for me?" Ava said as she walked to the door

"Of course. This is the third letter this week. I thought you and Nathan would be calling each other on the phone." her sister Kellie smiled as she took the letter

"Oh, he's kind of old fashioned, and it's even kind of cute." Ava smiled. "That's the one thing I like about him."

"Well, he must have even hung the moon." Kellie laughed

"Kellie." Ava laughed

"Love you sis." Kellie smiled as she embraced her sister, who warmly returned the embrace

"Love you too."

──────

Stella wiped her tears as she read the love letter her mother wrote to her father, about overcoming adversity, something a couple should get through together. Carefully placing the letter back in the box, she heard a knock at the door. Placing the box on the end table, she walked towards the door and opened it to Johnny.

Rolling her eyes, and folding her arms over her chest, Stella said, "What do you want? You here to rub it in about screwing the soccer moms?"

"What? You jealous?" Johnny smirked

"Fuck you asshole." Stella said as she attempted to slam the door in his face, but Johnny's hand on the door kept her from doing so. "Get your hand off my fucking door."

"Not until you talk to me." Johnny said

"I did talk to you, fucking dumbass." Stella said. "Now, go away and leave me alone. I don't want to see you. You've been ignoring my calls for weeks."

"If you would let me in, I could explain." Johnny said

Sighing, Stella opened the door and let the blonde in. "Fine, you have 3 minutes."

"Look, I'm sorry about ignoring your calls. I would have answered, but I didn't have my phone." Johnny said

Rolling her eyes and folding her arms over her chest, Stella said, "That is the world's oldest excuse, one that I've heard before."

"Whether you want to believe it or not it's true. I should have been there for you, and I wasn't. Truth is, I was scared. Kreese took over the dojo, August got hurt, I knew you didn't want to see me." Johnny said as he stood beside the door

"Johnny, I'm sorry about your dojo, but you're wrong. I wanted to see you. I wanted to see you so bad to tell you I didn't blame you." Stella said as she wiped her tears. "I've felt lost without you around."

Stepping closer and placing his hand on her cheek, Johnny said, "Stella, I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I need it. I'm so sorry."

Resting her dainty hands on his larger ones, and gently resting her forehead against his, Stella said, "Johnny, I wanted you there when August was in the ICU y'know. But when you didn't answer my calls, I thought something bad happened to you." she said

"How many times I gotta tell ya, princess? I'm a survivor." Johnny said as he gently caressed her cheekbone with his thumb.

"Doesn't matter." Stella said. "Anything could still happen to you. Mrs. LaRusso said something about you and Mr. LaRusso visiting a prison? Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

"No, it was a couple guys Robby used to know." Johnny said as they sat down. "But as far as Robby goes, he's in juvie and I fucked up."

"Johnny, you have a second chance to make things right." Stella said as she interlaced her hand with his. "You know I'll help you in anyway that I can. I promise you."

"Yeah, me too." Johnny said.

"For the record, I forgive you." Stella said as she gently rested her forehead against his. "Just please, promise me, you won't push me away, when things get tough. You don't have to do that."

"I promise." Johnny said

"Good. Now, you know what you have to do, to make things right, so go do it, and give me a call." Stella smiled

──────

Johnny parked the 93' dodge caravan of the Encino mansion of which he grew up, well, from the time he was in kindergarten anyway. He was led to Sid's office, where he sat reading a magazine article.

"Well, well, well, well, well." Sid said as he put the magazine article down. "Lookie who's back."

"I don't want to be here any longer than I have to." Johnny said

"How's that karate thing going, huh?" Sid said, then mockingly placed his hands on his chest. "It didn't go under did it. I'm shocked."

"This isn't about me." Johnny said. "There's this kid, August—"

"Yeah, I heard something about that. Your son, and your student, talk about role model. Mmm, mmm, mmm." Sid taunted

Johnny clenched his fists in pure anger. If only Stella were here. She always kept him calm. "Oh, hey. Easy there, Rocko. Sounded like you were warming up to ask for another handout. And I'd hate for anything to jeoprodize another payday." Sid said

"All right, so you'll help me?" Johnny asked

"I didn't say that either." Sid said

"You can kick me around, all you want Sid. I'll take it. But August doesn't deserve what happened to him. I need to make it right." Johnny said

"Yeah, with my money." Sid said, then scoffed.

"If I had anything to give, I would." Johnny said

"But you got nothing to give because you're a loser, like your father." Sid said. "You can say whatever you want about me, but at least I stuck around."

"Being a bully isn't much better than leaving. I'm trying to do better. I'm gonna see Robby, I'm scrapping together what I can to help August's family." Johnny said

"Yeah, from what I hear, you got the hots for his sister." Sid said. "Pope John Lawrence the first, healer of children!" Sid mocked. "Bravo, bravo."

"You gonna help me or not? 'Cause I'd hate for that little incident with your secretary to get out to the public." "Johnny said. "You know, start one of those, hash brown me too things."

"I didn't get where I am, because I cared about my reputation. Get the hell out of here." Sid said

"You're a cold old man." Johnny said as he walked out of the office.

"And don't you forget it, buster." Sid said, as Johnny stepped into the foyer, he grabbed a silver vase, then walked out the door.